Cushioning mechanism for shoe midsole

ABSTRACT

A cushioning mechanism for shoe midsole in one embodiment includes a base affixed to an outsole of the shoe and including a front cavity; a pivot member affixed to an insole of the shoe, a front end of the pivot member being pivotably secured to that of the base and the pivot member including a projecting element on a bottom, the projecting element having a concave portion; a cushioning member disposed in the cavity; a transverse sliding member disposed in a rear end of the cushioning member and having a concave portion; and an inclined suspension member having one end urged against the concave portion of the projecting element and retained thereat, and the other end urged against the concave portion of the sliding member and retained thereat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to shoes and more particularly to a cushioningmechanism mounted in, particularly the region of heel of the midsole ofa shoe.

2. Description of Related Art

Shoes with cushioning elements are well known in the art. For example,U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,329 discloses a cushioning mechanism for shoemidsole In order to provide improved cushioning and impact absorption.Shoes, especially athletic shoes, have been provided with air cushionsdisposed within the sole.

Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,311 discloses a shoe in which a cushioningwedge is disposed within a receptacle of an outsole.

Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,863 discloses a shoe in whichcushioning elements are disposed in side-by-side relation. In addition,a window extends through one side of the sole of the shoe so that thecushioning elements can be observed from the exterior of the shoe.

However, cushioning effect of the above patents is not optimal. Thus,the need for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a cushioningmechanism mounted in the midsole of a shoe.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description taken withthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation of a first preferred embodiment ofcushioning mechanism for shoe midsole according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment ofcushioning mechanism; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevation of a second preferred embodiment ofcushioning mechanism for shoe midsole according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cushioning mechanism for shoe midsole inaccordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention comprisesthe following components as discussed in detail below. The cushioningmechanism is mounted in the region of a heel of a midsole of a shoe.

A U-shaped pivot member 1 is affixed to the insole of the shoe. A base 2is affixed to the outsole of the shoe. The front ends of the pivotmember 1 and the base 2 are secured together by a pivot pin 8. Acushioning member 5 is provided in a front cavity 9 of the base 2. Atransverse sliding member 4 is provided on the rear end of thecushioning member 5. An inclined suspension plate 3 has one end urgedagainst the concave portion of a transverse arcuate projecting member 31formed on a bottom of the pivot member 1 and retained thereat. The otherend of the suspension plate 3 is urged against a concave portion of thesliding member 4 and retained thereat.

A stop member 21 is provided on either side ridge 22 on a top of thebase 2 and is proximate the rear end of the sliding member 4. Thedistance between the two stop members 21 is less than the width of thesliding member 4 so as to prevent the sliding member 4 from disengagingfrom the cushioning member 5. That is, the sliding member 4 is confinedto move back and forth from the stop members 21 to a predeterminedposition inside the front cavity 9 of the base 2 when the cushioningmember 5 is fully compressed.

Preferably, the cushioning member 5 is a helical or compression springor a resilient member which is made of natural rubber, synthetic rubber,PU (polyurethane), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), or EVA (ethylene-vinylacetate).

The pivot member 1 may pivot about the base 2 at its front end when theweight of the foot puts the pressure down in walking. That is, thevertical distance between the pivot member 1 and the base 2 is decreasedto a minimum. At the same time, the downward force is transmitted fromthe pivot member 1 to the sliding member 4 via the suspension plate 3.And in turn, the sliding member 4 pushes the cushioning member 5 forward(i.e., the cushioning member 5 being compressed). To the contrary, ashoe wearer lifts his or her shoe may return the cushioning mechanism tothe position, for example, as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, a cushioning mechanism for shoe midsole inaccordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention comprisesthe following components as discussed in detail below. The cushioningmechanism is also mounted in the region of a heel of a midsole of ashoe.

A U-shaped pivot member 1 is affixed to the insole of the shoe. A base 2is affixed to the outsole of the shoe. The front ends of both the pivotmember 1 and the base 2 are secured together by a pivot pin 8. Acushioning member 5 is provided in a front cavity 9 of the base 2. Arigid member (e.g., steel plate) 6 is provided in the front end of thecushioning member 5 in the front cavity 9 of the base 2 and is engagedtherewith. Further, an adjustment screw (e.g., thumb screw) 7 is driventhrough a front hole (not numbered) of the front cavity 9 of the base 2to urge against the rigid member 6. The head of the adjustment screw 7is disposed externally of the front cavity 9 of the base 2. A transversesliding member 4 is provided on the rear end of the cushioning member 5.An inclined suspension plate 3 has one end urged against the concaveportion of a transverse arcuate projecting member 31 formed on a bottomof the pivot member 1 and retained thereat. The other end of thesuspension plate 3 is urged against the concave portion of the slidingmember 4 and retained thereat.

A stop member 21 is provided on either ridge 22 on a top of the base 2and is proximate the rear end of the sliding member 4. The distancebetween the two stop members 21 is less than the width of the slidingmember 4 so as to prevent the sliding member 4 from disengaging from thecushioning member 5. That is, the sliding member 4 is confined to moveback and forth from the stop members 21 to a predetermined positioninside the front cavity 9 of the base 2 when the cushioning member 5 isfully compressed.

Preferably, the cushioning member 5 is a helical or compression springor a resilient member which is made of natural rubber, synthetic rubber,PU (polyurethane), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), or EVA (ethylene-vinylacetate).

The pivot member 1 may pivot about the base 2 at its front end when theweight of the foot puts the pressure down in walking. That is, thevertical distance between the pivot member 1 and the base 2 is decreasedto a minimum. At the same time, the downward force is transmitted fromthe pivot member 1 to the sliding member 4 via the suspension plate 3.And in turn, the sliding member 4 pushes the cushioning member 5 forward(i.e., the cushioning member 5 being compressed). To the contrary, ashoe wearer lifts his or her shoe may return the cushioning mechanism tothe position, for example, as shown in FIG. 3.

It is noted that a person may adjust the elasticity of the cushioningmember 5 by clockwise or counterclockwise rotating the adjustment screw7 by the hand via the rigid member 6 therebetween. For example, a personmay either increase the elasticity of the cushioning member 5 (i.e.,compressing the cushioning member 5) by clockwise rotating theadjustment screw 7 by the hand via the rigid member 6 therebetween ordecrease the elasticity of the cushioning member 5 (i.e., expanding thecushioning member 5) by counterclockwise rotating the adjustment screw 7by the hand via the rigid member 6 therebetween.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means ofspecific embodiments, numerous modifications could be made thereto bythose skilled in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention set forth in the claims.

1. A cushioning mechanism for a midsole of a shoe, comprising: a baseaffixed to an outsole of the shoe and including a front cavity; a pivotmember affixed to an insole of the shoe, a front end of the pivot memberbeing pivotably secured to that of the base and the pivot memberincluding a projecting element on a bottom, the projecting elementhaving a concave portion; a cushioning member disposed in the cavity; atransverse sliding member disposed in a rear end of the cushioningmember and having a concave portion; and an inclined suspension memberhaving one end urged against the concave portion of the projectingelement and retained thereat, and the other end urged against theconcave portion of the sliding member and retained thereat.
 2. Thecushioning mechanism of claim 1, wherein the cushioning member is ahelical spring.
 3. The cushioning mechanism of claim 1, wherein thecushioning member is a compression spring.
 4. The cushioning mechanismof claim 1, wherein the cushioning member is a resilient element.
 5. Thecushioning mechanism of claim 4, wherein the resilient element is formedof natural rubber, synthetic rubber, PU (polyurethane), PVC (polyvinylchloride), or EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate).
 6. The cushioning mechanismof claim 1, wherein the cavity comprises two rear side ridges disposedon a top, and further comprising a stop member disposed on each of theside ridges, the stop members being disposed rearward of the slidingmember and having a distance therebetween less than a width of thesliding member.
 7. A cushioning mechanism for a midsole of a shoe,comprising: a base affixed to an outsole of the shoe and including afront cavity; a pivot member affixed to an insole of the shoe, a frontend of the pivot member being pivotably secured to that of the base andthe pivot member including a projecting element on a bottom, theprojecting element having a concave portion; a cushioning memberdisposed in the cavity; an elasticity adjustment device disposed in afront end of the cushioning member, the elasticity adjustment devicebeing adapted to adjust an elasticity of the cushioning member; atransverse sliding member disposed in a rear end of the cushioningmember and having a concave portion; and an inclined suspension memberhaving one end urged against the concave portion of the projectingelement and retained thereat, and the other end urged against theconcave portion of the sliding member and retained thereat.
 8. Thecushioning mechanism of claim 7, wherein the cushioning member is ahelical spring.
 9. The cushioning mechanism of claim 7, wherein thecushioning member is a compression spring.
 10. The cushioning mechanismof claim 7, wherein the cushioning member is a resilient element. 11.The cushioning mechanism of claim 10, wherein the resilient element isformed of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, PU (polyurethane), PVC(polyvinyl chloride), or EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate).
 12. Thecushioning mechanism of claim 7, wherein the cavity comprises two rearside ridges disposed on a top, and further comprising a stop memberdisposed on each of the side ridges, the stop members being disposedrearward of the sliding member and having a distance therebetween lessthan a width of the sliding member.
 13. The cushioning mechanism ofclaim 7, wherein the elasticity adjustment device comprises a rigidmember in the cavity, the rigid member being urged against the front endof the cushioning member, and an adjustment screw having a head disposedexternally of the cavity and a shank urging against the rigid member bydriving through the cavity.
 14. The cushioning mechanism of claim 13,wherein the adjustment screw is a thumb screw.
 15. The cushioningmechanism of claim 13, wherein the rigid member is a steel plate.